Systems, methods, and apparatus for wireless thermal printing for order fulfillment

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and a printer apparatus using network-based communication over 3G or 4G wireless networks, and provides for electronic response from the printer relating to order confirmation and fulfillment at the recipient printer, in communication to an order management coordinator or server. The printer provides an order output including at least one symbol representing an order, including at least one of order content, ordering entity or individual, price, time of order, and combinations thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.13/958,572, filed Aug. 4, 2013, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to distributed order fulfillment systemsand methods, including a wireless printer device for network-basedcommunications relating to orders for goods and/or services and themanagement and fulfillment of those orders.

Description of the Prior Art

Generally, it is known in the relevant art to provide remote orderingsystems and methods to allow customers to place an order for items, suchas restaurant food, by sending a text message or SMS message from amobile phone or by placing an order through a website, located remotelyfrom the provider of the items. It is also known in the art to usethermal printing for order processing and fulfillment for restaurants.By way of background, thermal printing provides digital printing withoutink; the methods include selectively heating coated thermochromic paperor thermal paper to produce a printed image without ink when the paperpasses over a thermal print head, which transforms the selectivelyheated spots black, thereby producing a printed image or text on thepaper.

More specifically, it is known in the prior art to use wireless thermalprinters for receiving text messages or short message service (SMS)messages for printing orders based upon the message. However, therecipient printer apparatus does not provide for communication over 3Gor 4G wireless networks, and does not allow for response relating toorder confirmation and fulfillment at the recipient printer, incommunication to an order management coordinator or server or toindividual remote order placing individuals or entities.

Relevant prior art references are exemplified in the followingdocuments:

UK Patent Application No. GB2472018, filed Jul. 21, 2009 (also relatedto GB Patent Application No. GB0912623.6) by Sujan, for “OrderingSystem,” discloses an ordering system consisting of webpage(s) placingorders and two other devices process the order in a remote location suchas a takeaway or a restaurant, wherein the invention sends the order byonly sending encoded SMS messages to a printer device which is the firstdevice receiving the order via the GSM network and then decodes theorder with the embedded hardware and prints the order with all kinds offormation required. This order is then accepted or rejected by thedevice user and the status is sent back to the SMS sender via encodedSMS. The second device is a satellite navigator with barcode reader toread the order address from the printed barcode and set the destinationof the navigation system automatically. The thermal printer device issold commercially in the UK by iBacs Ltd./iBacsTel Remote Printers, anddescribed on its company website as operable to receive and print ordersin a remote location via the GSM network (SMS) so that when messages aredirectly received to this GSM printer it has the functionality toprocess the order and can reply back status messages, namely accept,reject, delete, and feed (and numerical keys are provided as the onlyother functional buttons on the device) to the designated server viaSMS. The company website states that this printer has the followinglimitations: “at the simplest level it is possible to send one waymessage to the printer; at the most complicated it is possible to setexpire times for message, require restaurants acknowledge receipt ofmessage before they are printed, receive feedback from the restaurantrelating to the message, e.g. a delivery time for an order, and removemessage from the printer queue that have not yet been printed.” Notably,this printer is used for direct communication via SMS with customersplacing food orders (to-go, pickup or delivery). Also, this printer islimited in printout dimensions at 58 mm width.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,550, filed May 15, 2007 by Stephen Aitkins, for“Systems and methods for remote ordering,” teaches systems and methodsfor remote ordering where there is a client that is configurable toaccept orders; an information processing system, that is incommunication with the client and configurable to receive orders fromthe client; a plurality of wireless modules in disparate physicallocations that are in wireless communication with the informationprocessing system and configurable to receive orders from theinformation processing system; and an order presentation client that isin communication with the wireless module and configurable to presentthe order. Furthermore, the information processing system isconfigurable to route the orders to a selected wireless module based onthe order.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20050060250, filed Sep. 17, 2003by Haparnas et al., for “Billing and ordering system and method forservices provided over communications networks,” discloses a method forordering a service over a communications network having the steps ofselecting a first service to be provided from a first system to a secondsystem, wherein the service is associated with a first code; a messagecomprising the first code and user identifying information is generatedin response to selecting the first service. The message is forwarded tothe first system from the second system.

WIPO Publication No. WO2006133713, filed Jun. 16, 2006 by Jesper et al.,for “Ordering system with terminal unit using a wireless network,”describes an ordering system for ordering services or goods comprising aplurality of client computers connected to a digital data network, theclient computers comprising means for receiving input from a clientconcerning orders, a central server system comprising a first softwareprogram and being connected to a first database and to the digital datanetwork, the first database comprising digital data representinginformation about services or goods, service providers or goodproviders, the first software program being configured for communicationwith the client computers through the digital data network for providingdata from the first database to the client computers concerning offersfor services or goods and for receiving digital data representing theorders for the services or goods, the first software program beingprogrammed to transmit an order to a service provider or goods providerin dependence of the order from a client, at least one terminal unit atthe site for the service provider or good provider, the terminal unitbeing configured for receiving orders from the first software programand having means for indicating the requested orders to the service orgoods provider, a wireless digital data network for transmitting databetween the first software program and the terminal unit through anon-dedicated wireless line.

WIPO Publication No. WO2008004241, filed Jul. 8, 2007 by Alon Scharz,for “A method and system for ordering and supplying goods and servicesvia a cellular phone,” describes a method and a system for ordering andsupplying goods and services including the steps of an end user sendinga coded SMS message using a specially created syntax from a cellulardevice to an intermediary computer, which is configured to identify thesupplier of goods being ordered from the coded SMS message and route thereceived message to the identified supplier of goods. The coded SMSmessage may also include unique identifiers for identifying goods beingordered, menu or catalog identifier codes, identifiers to identify themethod of payment and the method of delivery.

WIPO Publication No. WO2008046613, filed Oct. 18, 2007 by WolframReiners, for “A method to take orders and to handle billing for thirdparty services for mobile devices,” describes a method for taking ordersand handling billing for third party services is disclosed thatcomprises the steps of: under the control of an initiating digitaldevice: creating and sending an order to a computerized operator system(A), the order being a formatted text message containing orderinformation data; under the control of the computerized operator system(A): receiving the order, validating the formatted text messagecontained in the received order, creating a formatted text messageconfirming the order and sending the formatted text message to theinitiating digital device or, in the case of invalid received data,returning an error message, under the control of a digital device of amerchant (B): receiving the formatted text message confirming the order;creating a formatted text message reconfirming the order and confirmingthat payment has been received, and sending the same back to thecomputerized operator system (A), wherein the computerized operatorsystem (A) charges the merchant bank account on receipt of the formattedtext message reconfirming the order.

However, the prior art references nowhere teach or provide the improvedsystems, methods, and apparatus of the present invention, as set forthin the detailed description of this specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to remote ordering of products and/orservices wherein the order is placed by a mobile communications device,such as a mobile phone or smartphone or computer, in network-basedcommunication with a recipient server computer, which in turn is innetwork-based communication with a wireless printer device capable ofinteractive communication to receive and send messages, and to print andto scan and/or receive digital symbolic representations of an order forproducts and/or services. The present invention systems, methods, andapparatus provide for remote order processing to fulfillment withautomated transformation of the order to a digital representation of theorder including at least one unique symbol used for transmitting and forcommunicating order fulfillment upon completion by a third party.

It is an object of this invention to provide systems and apparatusembodiments of the present invention that are operable and function toperform method steps for order processing, management, and fulfillmentincluding the steps of: receiving at an order recipient server computer,at least one message including an order that was initiated and sent froma corresponding at least one remote mobile communications devices over acommunications network; the order recipient server computer transformingthe order into a digital representation of the order including at leastone unique symbol and transmitting the order over the network to atleast one order fulfillment printer device located at an orderfulfillment entity; the order fulfillment printer device receiving theorder and automatically and/or autonomously transforming the order to aprinted order, including the digital representation of the order havingthe at least one unique symbol; and the order fulfillment printer deviceautomatically producing a printout of the order. Also, the method stepsmay further include the step of the order fulfillment printer deviceautomatically generating an audible and/or visual alert when the orderis received. Additionally, after completion of the order fulfillment,the at least one unique symbol is scanned by the order fulfillmentprinter device and an order fulfillment message is automaticallygenerated and sent to the order recipient server via the network.

These and other aspects and objects of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment when considered with thedrawings, as they support the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a front perspective view of oneembodiment of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another perspective view of theinvention with top or lid open for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a side perspective view of theinvention with top open for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a bottom rear perspective view ofthe invention with top open for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a top side perspective view of theinvention with top open for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a top perspective view of theinvention for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a bottom perspective view of theinvention for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an order printout with at least one digitalrepresentation of the order.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a distributed system andnetwork for communication in another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention systems, methods, and apparatus provide for remoteorder processing to fulfillment with automated transformation of theorder to a digital representation of the order including at least oneunique symbol used for transmitting and for communicating orderfulfillment upon completion by a third party.

The present invention provides systems, methods, and a printer apparatususing network-based communication over 3G or 4G wireless networks, andprovides for electronic response from the printer relating to orderconfirmation and fulfillment at the recipient printer, in communicationto an order management coordinator or server or to individual remoteorder placing individuals or entities. The printer provides an orderoutput including at least one symbol representing an order, including atleast one of order content, ordering entity or individual, price, timeof order, and combinations thereof.

This application is also related to U.S. application Ser. No.14/608,903, filed Jan. 9, 2015, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

In one embodiment, the at least one unique symbol which represents theorder and preferably includes all relevant information for the order iscreated in an application on the customer device. Preferably, the uniquesymbol represents the entire order information for the order and thusincludes all relevant information associated with the order, includingbut not limited to the order, the order content, special dietaryrequests or restrictions for the order, substitutions for the order,spiciness levels for the order, order ID, customer ID, contactinformation for the customer, price, time of order, time of deliveryrequested, time of order fulfillment requested, payment status of theorder, payment information for the order such as cash, a credit cardnumber, a debit card number, a gift card number, etc., the number of theorder for a particular customer, rewards points for the customer,instructions to redeem rewards points for the customer, and/or thenumber of the order per a predetermined time period such as per day, perbreakfast session, per lunch session per dinner session, etc.Preferably, a payment processing device is operable to process thepayment information for the order upon receiving the payment informationvia the order fulfillment printer device, the customer communicationdevice, or the server computer. The payment processing device ispreferably further operable to send a payment confirmation message tothe order fulfillment printer device, the customer communication device,and/or the server computer

Furthermore, upon receipt of the order at the wireless order fulfillmentprinter device, at least one alarm notification is automaticallyactivated at the order fulfillment device, including audio and/or visualalert to indicate that an order was received. Preferably, the orderfulfillment printer device automatically and autonomously transforms theorder into a digital representation of the order, i.e., at least onesymbol is generated that is unique to each order and is automaticallyprinted as a tangible manifestation of the order. In a preferredembodiment, the order is printed on thermal paper without ink. A userwill selectively activate a confirmation button on the order fulfillmentprinter device, which automatically sends a confirmation of receiptmessage to the receiving server via the network. In another embodiment,the order fulfillment printer device automatically sends a confirmationof receipt message to the server and/or to the customer communicationsdevice upon receiving the order and/or printing the order. Then, theprinted order is used by order fulfillment at that same location wherethe order fulfillment printer device is located for providing theproducts and/or services that are required by the order. When the orderis completely fulfilled, the unique symbol, preferably a QR code, isscanned by the order fulfillment printer, which automatically andautonomously generates a notification message that is communicated viathe network to the receiving server computer. Also, a “call” button forselective activation is provided for sending a notice to the receivingserver that a question or issue about the order exists with orderfulfillment.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a uniqueconfiguration symbol is used to configure the wireless order fulfillmentprinter device. The unique configuration symbol includes commands orinstructions for the wireless order fulfillment printer device toconfigure itself. Commands relate to network configuration, WiFiparameter configuration, cellular network parameter configuration,printer settings, runtime settings, alarm settings, communicationsettings, etc. Preferably, the unique configuration symbol is a QR code.In another embodiment, the unique configuration symbol is a bar code. Acomputer, phone, or other electronic device is utilized to generate theunique configuration symbol. Preferably, the wireless order fulfillmentprinter device is operable to scan or read the unique configurationsymbol and configure itself based on the commands or instructions in theQR code.

In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one mobiledevice of one or more employees of the order fulfillment entity arelinked to the order fulfillment printer device and/or the at least oneserver computer. The at least one mobile device of one or more employeesreceives a digital representation of the order including at least oneunique symbol from the at least one server computer in one embodiment.In another embodiment, the at least one mobile device of one or moreemployees receives a digital representation of the order including atleast one unique symbol directly from the customer device. Preferably,the order fulfillment printer device and the employee mobile devicereceive the digital representation of the order at the same time. Themobile device is preferably operable to send the at least one uniquesymbol to any smart devices utilized in the order fulfillment facilityor alternatively, is readable by any smart devices utilized in the orderfulfillment facility. Preferably, the smart devices are devices includedin the “internet of things” and the devices include by way of exampleand not limitation, robotics which fill customer orders at warehouses orsmart appliances such as smart ovens, smart fridges, smart microwaves,or smart frying pans in restaurants. The smart devices or smartappliances are preferably operable, upon receiving the at least oneunique symbol, to automatically take steps towards order fulfillmentsuch as heating/cooling to a certain temperature.

The at least one mobile device of the one or more employees ispreferably a smart phone or a wearable such as a smart watch or smartglasses. Preferably, the at least one mobile device includes a phonehome button which provides notifying the sending server (and thus thesender) that there is a problem with the order, and they need to contactthe fulfillment location. In another embodiment, the at least one mobiledevice includes a phone home button which is operable to initiate aphone call over a cellular or a WiFi network directly to the sender at apredetermined phone number from the fulfillment location, with staff atthe fulfillment location able to speak into the mobile device andcommunicate with the sender. In another embodiment, the phone call isinitiated via a voice command. In another embodiment, the phone homebutton sends a text or an email to the predetermined phone number.

The order fulfillment printer device is also preferably operable toprint an adhesive digital representation of the order including the atleast one unique symbol for attachment to one or more takeout boxeswhich will contain the order. In one embodiment, upon or proximate todelivery of the order, a communications device of the delivery driver ordelivery device is operable to scan the at least one unique symbol tosend the delivery time and/or delivery location to the server computer.In another embodiment, the unique symbol is readable by a deliverydevice, such as a drone or self-driving car. The unique symbolpreferably includes GPS coordinates or an address for delivery of theorder. Upon insertion of the one or more takeout boxes into theappropriate area of the delivery device, the delivery device is operableto read the unique symbol, travel to the specified GPS coordinates, anddeliver the one or more takeout boxes. In one embodiment, the deliverydevice is operable to keep the one or more takeout boxes heated orcooled until the customer accepts the one or more takeout boxes.Preferably, the delivery vehicle is then operable to return to the orderfulfillment entity location.

In another embodiment, to reorder the same order at a later date, thecustomer scans the at least one unique symbol through a mobileapplication or takes a picture of the at least one unique symbol throughan application, wherein the application modifies the at least one uniquesymbol to include updated information such as the date, time, pickup, orpayment information and sends the modified at least one unique symbol tothe server computer, the order fulfillment printer, and/or one or moremobile devices of the employees at the order fulfillment location. Inanother embodiment, the at least one unique symbol which is linked to anemployee's mobile device or to the takeout boxes is also linked to theGPS system of the employee's mobile device or to the GPS system of avehicle for delivery orders. Using the unique symbol as identificationof the order, the GPS system preferably provides customers real-timetracking information and real-time updates about the delivery order,including real-time location and estimated delivery time.

In systems and methods of the present invention, a wireless thermalprinter apparatus is used within a distributed communications networkthat further includes a multiplicity of remote communications devices orcomputers in network-based connection and/or communication with at leastone server computer for sending and receiving electronic messages; theprinter also is constructed and configured for sending and receivingelectronic messages over the communications network, which preferablysupports 3G and 4G wireless communications. The electronic (digital)wireless messages are initiated and sent from a plurality of remotemobile communications devices (for example as SMS or text messages) to aserver computer, which transmits them to at least one thermal printerdevice located at an order fulfillment entity, the printer device beingoperable to receive messages via wireless network-based communication.

The thermal printer device receives the message and automatically and/orautonomously transforms the message to a printed order, including adigital representation of the order having a symbol (e.g., bar code, QRcode, etc.). The printer order may further include an orderidentification (ID), such as an ID number. Also, the digitalrepresentation of the order, including the symbol, corresponds to atleast one of the following: a content of items in the order, a time ofthe order, a customer identifier, a customer location (address, GPScoordinates, etc.), items on the order, price of the order, method ofpayment or electronic payment confirmation, etc., and a fulfillment timeof the order (when the order is requested to be fulfilled and/orreceived and/or delivered to the customer, if appropriate).

Preferred embodiments of the present invention include a quick response(QR) code in the printed output of the order, as illustrated in thefigures. It is known in the art to provide a QR code or matrix bar code,or 2D bar code, as an optically machine-readable label or symbol that isassociated with a product or service or business, and informationrelated to the product, service or business. The information encoded bya QR code comprises four standardized types or modes of data, which arenumeric, alphanumeric, binary, Kanji, or through supported extensions orlinks, virtually any type of data. QR codes have fast readability andgreater storage capacity than bar codes. Prior art applications for QRcodes include product tracking, item identification, time tracking,document management, general marketing, automated linking orscan-to-website through mobile smartphone or device applications is alsoa known application of QR codes.

The present invention includes an order printout, as set forthhereinabove, wherein the order printout includes at least one symbol,and, more particularly, a unique symbol is provided for each order; theat least one unique symbol for each order being selected from the groupconsisting of a bar code, a QR code, any digital symbol capable ofrepresenting an order or a request, including an order identifier, andcombinations thereof. Preferably, the printout also provides for apayment status of the order. In another embodiment, the printoutcontains a second unique symbol, wherein the second unique symbolprovides payment for the order upon being scanned. Preferably, thesymbol provides a digital representation of the order and/or anelectronic link to a website or to a computer, server, processor coupledwith memory, or other computer device, including but not limited to asmartphone, wherein detailed information regarding the order, the ordercontent, order ID, customer ID, price, time of order, time of deliveryrequested, time of order fulfillment requested, payment status of theorder, payment information for the order, the number of the order for aparticular customer, rewards points for the customer, instructions toredeem rewards points for the customer, and combinations thereof areprovided or indicated. The symbol is optically scannable or readable bythe printer device and/or a symbol reader or device coupled with,integrated with, and/or connected to the printer device, and equippedwith software and hardware for receiving an image of the symbol andassociating the symbol with the order and generating a signal or amessage regarding the order fulfillment corresponding to that symbol.Preferably, the symbol is unique to each order and operable foridentifying the order, the customer, the timing of the order placement,the timing of order completion or fulfillment, the price, order trackingin processing or status of the order, and combinations thereof. In oneembodiment, the digital representation of the order and/or the printoutincludes a payment status for an order.

The printer device provides a scan of the digital representation orsymbol (QR code) upon fulfillment of the order, and transforms thescanned symbol into a message for confirmation of order fulfillment, andthe message is transmitted over the network to the server computer ofthe order receiving entity. The order receiving entity server receivesthe message confirming order fulfillment and takes action relating todelivery, shipment, and/or notification of the end customer.

Hardware or firmware and/or software are operable on the printer devicefor receiving wireless messages and transforming them into the orderprintout including at least the digital representation of the order,including at least one symbol, preferably a QR code that is unique toeach order; a chipset and board including a processor coupled withmemory is provided, and the printer device is constructed and configuredfor optical scanning of the at least one symbol for automatically and/orautonomously generating an order fulfillment message and transmitting itor sending it via wireless network-based communication to the receivingentity server, which is remotely located from the printer device.

The present invention provides systems and methods for remote orderingwhere there is at least one customer who places an order on acorresponding at least one remote communication device for communicatingan electronic message to a server computer that is part of an orderprocessing and fulfillment system, which then transmits the message to areceiving entity device that is configurable to accept orders;preferably, the at least one remote communication device is a mobile,wireless communication device. The order processing and fulfillmentsystem is constructed and configured for network-based communicationwith the customer remote communication device(s) and configurable toreceive orders from them; a multiplicity of order fulfillment devicesthat are also in network-based communication with the server computer,and positioned in distributed locations, preferably at separate businessentities that provide products and/or services related to the order(s),the order fulfillment devices are preferably operable in wirelesscommunication with the server computer and configured to receive theorders from the order processing and fulfillment system server computer,and to provide confirmation of the order receipt, as well as provide aconfirmation of the order fulfillment or completion, in addition toproviding a printout having at least one digital representation of theorder, the at least one digital representation further including atleast one symbol. Furthermore, the order processing and fulfillmentsystem server is configured to route the messages containing the ordersto a selected or predetermined order fulfillment device, specified inthe order or determined by the order content and/or customer indicationor selection for fulfillment.

Referring now to the drawings in general, the illustrations are for thepurpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and arenot intended to limit the invention thereto. In the figures, the printerdevice is generally referenced 10. In the various figures, like numeralsdesignate the same components in different views.

The system and apparatus of the present invention and as illustrated inthe figures are operable and function to perform method steps for orderprocessing, management, and fulfillment including the steps of:receiving at an order recipient server computer, at least one messageincluding an order that was initiated and sent from a corresponding atleast one remote mobile communications devices over a communicationsnetwork; the order recipient server computer transforming the order intoa digital representation of the order including at least one uniquesymbol and transmitting the order over the network to at least one orderfulfillment printer device located at an order fulfillment entity; theorder fulfillment printer device receiving the order and automaticallyand/or autonomously transforming the order to a printed order, includingthe digital representation of the order having the at least one uniquesymbol; and the order fulfillment printer device automatically producinga printout of the order. Also, the method steps may further include thestep of the order fulfillment printer device automatically generating anaudible and/or visual alert when the order is received. Additionally,after completion of the order fulfillment, the at least one uniquesymbol is scanned by the order fulfillment printer device and an orderfulfillment message is automatically generated and sent to the orderrecipient server via the network.

In other embodiments of the present invention, a system for orderprocessing, management, and fulfillment is provided, including an orderrecipient server computer constructed and configured in electroniccommunication over a network with a multiplicity of remote communicationcustomer devices and a multiplicity of order fulfillment printer devicespositioned remotely; at least one message initiated and sent by theremote communication customer devices to the order recipient servercomputer, the at least one message including an order for product(s)and/or service(s) offered by a vendor; the order recipient servercomputer operable to transform the message into a digital representationof the order including at least one unique symbol, and to transmit theorder over the network to the at least one order fulfillment printerdevice located at an order fulfillment entity for the vendor; the orderfulfillment printer device operable to receive the order andautomatically and/or autonomously transform the order to a printedorder, including the digital representation of the order having the atleast one unique symbol; and a printout of the order automaticallyproduced by the order fulfillment printer device at the orderfulfillment location. Preferably, the at least one symbol is unique toeach order.

The order fulfillment printer device is operable to receive messages viawireless network-based communication, and to automatically generate anaudible and/or visual alert when the order is received. Also, an orderfulfillment message is automatically generated and sent to the orderrecipient server via the network by the order fulfillment printerdevice.

The present invention further provides a printer device for use in asystem for order processing, management, and fulfillment including thecomponents illustrated in the figures and described hereinbelow, andoperable to receive and printout an order received by wireless messagingto the printer device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a front perspective view of oneembodiment of the apparatus of the invention, a thermal printer device10 having a power supply and/or power cord for connecting to powersupply 12, and hardware, firmware and software that is operable foractivating the device and performing the functions described herein (notshown). A symbol reader 14 is provided for reading the symbol (QR code)on the order printout (FIG. 8). A light 29 may be provided along thebase or sides. Functional buttons 16, 18 for selective activation ofdevice functionality are provided on a depressed or inset surface 24 toavoid accidental selection or activation; the inset surface may furtherinclude a texture change around the buttons, but is preferably slightlyinset from the main printer body to avoid accidental activation. Onefunctional button 18 is provided for selective indication of orderreceipt for fulfillment by a fulfillment user or personnel. Anotherfunctional button 16 is provided to automatically call or message thesending entity, i.e., the entity that sent the order message to thefulfillment entity having the printer device on location, for providinga confirmation or other indication that the order was received at theprinter device for order fulfillment processing. A hinged lid 25 (FIG.2) or cover having a hinged opening area and a second hinged edge 20that is equipped with a serrated edge 21 that is angled to push paper upon its way out of the device and for cutting paper for the orderprintout from the thermal printer device. A thermal printer roller 23 isprovided for providing the thermal printing on thermal paper roll (notshown) and output from the device through an exit opening 22, andproviding a slot with a curved top for paper to easily exit and to helpthe paper curl up on its way out; thermal printing methods arewell-established in the prior art and known to one of ordinary skill. Inpreferred embodiments, 80 mm wide thermal paper is used, in particular,importantly, where point of sale (POS) device capability is integratedwithin the housing of the printer device.

The base of the printer device includes raised footings 28 positioned atspaced apart locations on the bottom of the printer device forsupporting it on a horizontal surface to provide even and stablepositioning during operation; alternatively, the printer device may bemounted on a wall or vertical surface (not illustrated), and in oneembodiment the bottom central area would include at least one hang hole(not shown) for wall mounting. A plurality of air vents or holes 26 areprovided along the bottom side of the device for cooling of the internalcomponents.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another perspective view of theinvention with top or lid open for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1,illustrating the printer head roller attached to the hinged door or toplid. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a side perspective view ofthe invention with top open for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a bottom rear perspective view ofthe invention with top open for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a top side perspective view of theinvention with top open for the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6is a schematic diagram showing a top perspective view of the inventionfor the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagramshowing a bottom perspective view of the invention for the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an order printout with at least one digitalrepresentation of the order. Specifically, a QR code is provided as theat least one digital representation of the order (80). Otherinformation, including order content, price, time, date, recipientidentification, order fulfillment identification (blacklined), areillustrated in addition to the QR code on the order printout for theconvenience of order fulfillment personnel who may read the orderprintout in hardcopy format instead of digital review on a display.Alternatively, in one embodiment, the at least one digitalrepresentation of the order is provided solely by a symbol, e.g., the QRcode, which corresponds to the entire order information (and the symbolis unique to each order), including but not limited to order content,price, payment information, order placement time and date, orderfulfillment time and date, recipient identification, order fulfillmentidentification, customer identification, and combinations thereof; inthis case, the order fulfillment printer device receives a message withthe QR code and automatically produces a printout of the order with onlythe QR code visibly represented on the order printout. Importantly, thepresent invention provides that the symbol is unique to each order.While the printout may be scanned by a separate reader with a display(e.g., smartphone with a software application for optically scanning anddisplaying the text-based or alphanumeric-based order information) foruse by order fulfillment personnel, the present invention best modeincludes integration of optical scanning device within the housing ofthe thermal printer device for performing the method steps described.After completion of the order fulfillment, the QR code is scanned by theprinter device and an order fulfillment message is automaticallygenerated and sent to the order recipient server via the network.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a distributed system andnetwork for communication in another embodiment of the invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, a basic schematic of some of the key componentsof a virtualized computing (or cloud-based) system including the printerdevice as illustrated in the other figures, according to the presentinvention are shown. The system 200 comprises a server 210 with aprocessing unit 211. The server 210 is constructed, configured andcoupled to enable communication over a network 250. The server providesfor user interconnection with the server over the network using a remotecomputer device or a personal computer (PC) 240 positioned remotely fromthe server. Furthermore, the system is operable for a multiplicity ofremote personal computers or terminals 260, 270 for example, in aclient/server architecture, or through a website and the Internet fornetwork-based order initiation; as described hereinabove, a multiplicityof remote mobile devices for customer initiation of corresponding ordersare provided, as well as a multiplicity of order fulfillment printerdevices located at distributed order fulfillment locations (preferably,each order fulfillment entity has at least one printer device).

Alternatively, a customer user may interconnect through the network 250using a user device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), mobilecommunication device, such as by way of example and not limitation, amobile phone, a cell phone, smart phone, tablet computer, laptopcomputer, netbook, a terminal, or any other computing device suitablefor network connection. Also, alternative architectures may be usedinstead of the client/server architecture. For example, a PC network, orother suitable architecture may be used. The network 250 may be theInternet, an intranet, or any other network suitable for searching,obtaining, and/or using information and/or communications. The system ofthe present invention further includes an operating system 212 installedand running on the server 210, enabling server 210 to communicatethrough network 250 with the remote, distributed user devices as well asthe remote, distributed order fulfillment printers located at orderfulfillment locations. The operating system may be any operating systemknown in the art that is suitable for network communication, includingwired and/or wireless, specifically 3G and 4G networks and systems. Theprinter device preferably communicates wireless messaging as describedhereinabove.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the printer deviceincludes a “phone home” button operable to notify the sending server(and thus the sender) that there is a problem with the order, and theyneed to contact the fulfillment location. In another embodiment of thepresent invention, the printer device includes a microphone. In anotherembodiment of the present invention, the printer device includes aspeaker. In one embodiment of the present invention, the phone homebutton is operable to initiate a phone call over a cellular networkdirectly to the sender at a predetermined phone number from thefulfillment location, with staff at the fulfillment location able toliterally speak into the printer through the microphone and communicatewith the sender. The phone home button is a physical button in oneembodiment. In another embodiment, the phone home button is a touchscreen button. In another embodiment, the “phone home” functionality isactivatable via a voice command such as “phone home.” In yet anotherembodiment, selection of the phone home button or activation of thephone home functionality provides for sending a text message or an emailto the customer communication device.

In a further embodiment, the printer device includes an Ethernetinterface. Preferably, the printer device also includes a WiFi interfacefor communication. In one embodiment, the WiFi interface is used when3G, 4G, or any other cellular network is not available forcommunication.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of exampleand not limitation, the order processing and fulfillment systems andmethods of the present invention, including the order fulfillmentprinter device are integrated with point of sale (POS) systems forcoordinating payment of the order remotely as well. Also, while physicalbuttons for selective activation are illustrated in the figures, virtualkeys or buttons may be provided with a touch screen for selectiveactivation.

Additionally, while a thermal printer is included in examples of thepreferred embodiments for generating a printout of the order, otherprinting equipment may also be used for printing the order, includingthe unique order symbol for use by fulfillment and for scanning togenerate the automated order fulfillment completion message. In anotherexample, data from the scanned order fulfillment message may be combinedwith order data stored at the recipient server computer (dispatchcomputer) and analytics may be provided for each order fulfillmententity and/or for all order fulfillment entities relating to the ordersreceived over time, including but not limited to volume of orders perday and/or per time of day or period of time, time between orderconfirmation and completion of order fulfillment (based upon the timedifference between the message received at the recipient server of orderconformation and the time the unique symbol or QR code is scanned toindicate order fulfillment and that the order fulfillment message isreceived by the recipient server, and combinations thereof; otheranonymized data and analysis thereof may be stored at the server for usein marketing, planning, and process improvement with the orderfulfillment entities.

Other analysis of data relates to specific customer data, anonymizedcustomer data, specific employee data, and/or anonymized employee dataand includes the number of times the particular customer has ordered acertain item, the number of times a certain item has been ordered thatday/week/month/year, the most used ingredients used in fulfillingcustomer orders, the least used ingredients used in fulfilling customerorders, estimated or actual profit margins from orders based on theamount/type of ingredients used, the sale price of the order, averagesale prices of orders, the most profitable menu items, the leastprofitable menu items, employees who fulfill the most orders, employeeswho fulfill the least orders, analysis of an employee's speed,efficiency, and accuracy regarding order fulfillment, an analysis ofcommon customer comments and/or complaints, an analysis of customercomments and/or complaints by menu item, an analysis of customercomments and/or complaints by employee, an analysis of delivery ordersby area including areas most frequently delivered to and areas leastfrequently delivered to, etc. Preferably, a GUI is provided for analysisof specific customer data, anonymized customer data, specific employeedata, and/or anonymized employee data. By way of example and notlimitation, an analysis of delivery orders within a delivery areaincluding areas most frequently delivered to and areas least frequentlydelivered to includes a map with color codes, a plurality of symbolssuch as asterisk or Xs, or shading to indicate the areas most frequentlydelivered to and areas least frequently delivered to. In anotherembodiment, a GUI provides graphs or charts (bar, line, pie, etc.) oforders per time period and/or menu items ordered per time period.

The above-mentioned examples are provided to serve the purpose ofclarifying the aspects of the invention and it will be apparent to oneskilled in the art that they do not serve to limit the scope of theinvention. All modifications and improvements have been deleted hereinfor the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within thescope of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for order processing, management,and fulfillment comprising: configuring an order fulfillment printerdevice located at an order fulfillment entity by the order fulfillmentprinter device scanning a unique configuration symbol; receiving at anorder recipient server computer a message including an order that wasinitiated and sent from a remote customer device over a network; theorder recipient server computer transforming the order into a digitalrepresentation of the order and transmitting the digital representationof the order over the network to the order fulfillment printer devicelocated at the order fulfillment entity, wherein the digitalrepresentation of the order is provided solely by a unique order symboland the unique order symbol corresponds to the entire order informationfor the order, wherein the entire order information for the orderincludes a content of the order, an ID of a customer associated with theorder, and payment information for the order; the order fulfillmentprinter device receiving the digital representation of the order andautomatically transforming the digital representation of the order to aprinted order by automatically producing a printout of the order,wherein the printed order includes a printed representation of thedigital representation of the order; upon identification of a problemwith the order, selecting a phone home button on the order fulfillmentprinter device to call the remote customer device; upon completion ofthe order, the order fulfillment printer device scanning the uniqueorder symbol to obtain present order data, generate an order fulfillmentmessage, transmit the order fulfillment message to the order recipientserver computer and transmit the payment information for the order to apayment processing device; and processing a payment for the order viathe payment processing device based upon the payment information for theorder.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the uniqueconfiguration symbol via an electronic device via selection of one ormore parameters including WiFi parameters, cellular network parameters,and settings for the order fulfillment printer device.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the entire order information for the order furtherincludes GPS coordinates or an address for delivery of the order,further comprising upon a smart phone scanning the unique order symbol,the smart phone mapping a route to the GPS coordinates or the addressfor delivery of the order and the smart phone providing real-timetracking of the order and real-time updates regarding the order to theremote customer device.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the smartphone includes a phone home button, wherein upon activation of the phonehome button, the smart phone calls the remote customer device.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising providing analytics for the orderand/or a plurality of other orders, wherein the analytics includeanonymized customer data.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprisingthe remote customer device scanning the unique order symbol to reorderthe content of the order, the remote customer device sending a reordermessage to the order recipient server computer, the order recipientserver computer transforming the reorder message into a reorder digitalrepresentation of the reorder and transmitting the reorder digitalrepresentation of the reorder over the network to the order fulfillmentprinter device located at the order fulfillment entity, wherein thereorder digital representation of the reorder is provided solely by asecond unique order symbol and the second unique order symbolcorresponds to the entire reorder information for the reorder.